Selector switch



Oct. 12, 1948. D. w. JOHNSON 2,451,225

SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Jan. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dav/0 14 (/ah/vson By his afforneys Oct. 12, 1948. D. w. JOHNSON 2,451,225

SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Jan. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmw //7 venfor Dav/'0 14 Johns 0/7 15 y his afforn eys $4M M 4M Patented Got. 12, 1948 SELECTOR SWITCH David W. Johnson, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The Arrow-Hart & Hegeman Electric 00., Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 14, 1946, Serial No. 641,070

14 Claims.

This invention relates to selector switches of a type which is rotatable manually to select a desired set of contacts for controlling the desired circuit and which may be pushed or pulled to open or to var the power line arrangements.

The invention further relates to provision in this type of selector switch whereby the selection can take place only after the power circuit contacts have been opened.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved switch structure of the type described wherein selection and momentary contact can be made of either one of a pair of control circuits while the power circuit contacts are held in open position and which, when released, is automatically returned to a mid or central position in which the contro1 circuit contacts are permitted to return to a normal condition, the power circuit contacts are automatically closed and the switch structure is locked in the mid position against further rotative movement until the power contacts are again opened.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a selector switch in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the switch structure taken as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts of the switch operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a, longitudinal sectional view of a, portion of the switch structure, at the left in Fig. 1, taken as on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the face of the casing member as seen looking from the right in Fig. 4, the casing member being shown as detached from the switch structure;

Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views looking from the right in Fig. 4 showing the cooperating parts which effect the return of the switch parts to a a;

normal position, Fig. 6 showing the parts in normal position, one spring being removed to show the spring recess and Fig. 7 showing the parts when operated to effect a control circuit operation; and

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view drawn to a smaller scale of the element shown at the left in Fig. 3.

The invention is shown in the drawings in cnnection with a switch of the push-pull type having the general construction of the switch shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 576,270, filed February 5, 1945. A switch as disclosed in my co-pending application comprises sections such as A, B and C, formed as molded insulating base members which carry various conductive or functional parts and are secured together by bolts Ill which extend through all the sections and have nuts I I thereon. Operation of the device is by rotation of a shaft 20 which passes through all the sections and carries a handle 22, at one end. Of the various sections, section A may contain fixed and movable contacts and is shown as a rectangular insulating body or base member 38 having a chamber in which are mounted spaced contacts 48 having extensions leading to outer faces of the member for the usual circuit connections (not shown). The circuit through the contacts 43 is arranged to be completed by contacts 4-5 mounted on a nonconductive bridging member 3% and connected by a metallic strip 35. The bridging member 3 is freely mounted on a portion 26a of the shaft 2!] of reduced diameter and is held in engagement 5 with the shoulder 281) by a spring which sur- A switch structure in accordance with this invention may comprise a plurality of B sections, each section comprising a substantially square body member 50 of molded insulation with flat top and bottom faces and centrally apertured, as

at to receive the operating shaft 29, a rectangular sleeve 2! mounted on the shaft 2!! and a cam member 60 having a rectangular opening so as to be operated by rotation of the sleeve 2|. Each section also comprises electrical contacts 52, one of each pair of said contacts being spring biased to engaging position and arranged to be operated by the cam member 58 to a position in which the contacts are separated. The earns 60 and sleeve 2| are positioned on the shaft 29 so that rotation of the shaft in one direction will permit some contacts to engag while separating others and operation of the shaft in the opposite direction will cause a different arrangement of the closed and open contacts as shown in my prior application.

The section C also comprises a rectangular block of molded insulation and having a cen tral opening for the reception of the shaft 20. At the outer end of the block 953, the shaft opening is enlarged for a short distance to receive the handle 22 fixed on the end of shaft 20. At the other end of the block 9B the central opening is enlarged for an appreciable depth leaving a relatively thin perforated wall 99a to which is secured a locking member I98 having an annular flange slotted to form locking fingers H12 extending parallel to the axis of the shaft 2!]. A fabricated key member affixed to the shaft 20 by a pin 91 has wings 96w, one or both of which has an extension 96a: adapted to engage in a slot between fingers I 02 when the shaft 20 is in its normal position. The shaft 20 may be pushed to remove the extensions 96:1: from the slots and rotated in either direction but rotation of the shaft 20 is limited by stops I04 secured to the locking member I00.

Mounted in the enlarged opening at the inner end of the block 90 is a substantially circular metal plate 88 having an opening to receive the shaft 20 and the fabricated key 05. Plate 88 has radial extensions 92 which engage in recesses 93 in the wall of the opening in the block and prevent rotation of the plate 88. Seated on the plate 88 is a spring operating member I having a central opening which, for part of its depth, is circular as at I05a with radially extending slots I051) to receive the key 96 and its wings 95w. For the remainder of its depth the central opening is rectangular as at I050 to receiv the end of the rectangular sleeve 2| which operates the cams 60. Along the edge of one face, the member I05 is formed with spaced recesses as at I05d, the recesses being symmetrically disposed upon opposite sides of a diameter and each being less than 180 in extent so as to provide radially extending abutments I056 at each end of the recesses. The block 90 is recessed in its end face (the right end face in Fig. 4) to provide a fiat face which will lie in a common plane with the face of the member I05. Block 90 is further recessed to provide recesses 99 complementary to the recesses I05d in the member I05, a recess in the member I05 and a recess in the block 90 together forming a niche for the reception of a spring I0'I which lies partly in each f the complementary recesses. The springs I01 are provided with flat end pieces I08 which, when the switch is in its normal position, abut the ends of the niches. When the shaft 20 is rotated, carrying with it the member I05, the abutments I05e engage an end of each spring and compress the springs I0'I between the abutments I05e and the ends of the recesses in the block 90.

When in use the switch, except when operated, occupies its normal position with the shaft 20 pressed by spring 44 to engage a wing extension 960: in slot 102a between fingers I02. In this position some contacts in sections A and B may be engaged while other contacts are held separated and rotation of shaft 20 is prevented. To operate the switch, the shaft 20 is pushed inwardly by pressure on the handle 22, forcing key member 96 from its engagement with the lock member I00 and operating the contacts 06 in section A to break the circuit through the contacts 48 and compressing spring 44. With key member 96 clear of the lock member I00, the shaft 20 may be rotated in either direction. Rotating the shaft 20 does not rotate the bridging member 34 mounted on the shaft 20 in section A but rotates the key member 90 until it engages one of the stop members I04. The key member 96, through the engagement of its wings, 9610 in recesses I051) in the member I05, rotates the member I05 causing the abutments I05e to compress springs I01 and, through the engagement of rectangular sleeve III, in the rectangular opening 050 in member I 05, to rotate sleeve 2| and cams 60 to operate the contacts 52. After the shaft has been pushed in and turned manually until the key member 96 abuts one or the other of the stops I04, it cannot, while in that rotated position, move axially outward because the key would come to rest on the surface of the blocks I04b on which the stops are mounted. Thus when the handle 22 is released, the springs I0I return the member I05 and key member 96 to a position in which the spring 04 operates shaft 20 to carry a wing 9020 of the key member into slot IOZa of the lock member I00, the member I05 also operating sleeve 2I and cams 60 to their normal positions. Operation of the shaft 20 by the spring 04 restores the contacts of section A to their normally closed condition.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the contacts 46, 48 are separated when the shaft 20 is pushed, and other selector contacts in the selector sections 50 are operated as the shaft is then turned. The selection is momentary in the respect that as soon as the operator lets go of.

the handle the shaft returns to its normal rotary and axial position as described, the selection not being maintained and the contacts 55, at again reengaging automatically.

Many modifications Within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial and rotational movements, a member mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said member with said shaft, means yieldingly opposing axial movement of said shaft from a predetermined position in one direction, a fixed block having an opening receiving said member, and spring means opposing rotation of said member, said member and fixed block having co-operating recesses receiving said spring means and providing abutments therefor.

2. In a push-pull switch, a manually operable shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial movement and for rotational movements in clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a predetermined position, electrical contacts operated by movement of said shaft, means limiting rotational movements of said shaft, yielding means for rotating and yielding means for axially moving said shaft, said ielding means cooperatively acting to return said shaft to said predetermined position automatically on release of manual pressure.

3. In a push-pull switch, a manually operable shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial movement and for rotational movements in clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a predetermined position, electrical contacts operated by said movements of said shaft, means limitin rotationa1 movements of said shaft, yieldin means for rotating and yielding means for axially moving said shaft, said yielding means cooperatively acting to return said shaft to said predetermined position automatically on release of manual control, and means for stopping and locking said shaft in said predetermined position.

4. In a push-pull switch, a manually operable shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial move" ment and for rotational movements in clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a predetermined position, an electrical contact member slidably mounted on and operated by axial movements of said shaft, a fixed contact engageable by said contact member, a member mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said member by said shaft, springs arranged to be compressed by movements of said member and acting when freed of manual control to rotate and return said shaft to a predetermined position, and other electrical contacts operated by rotation of said member.

5. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial and rotational movements, electrical contacts operated by axial movements of said shaft, a member mounted on said shaft, means for rotatin said member b said shaft, springs having ends thereof engaged by said member, stops co-operating with said member to compress said springs, and electrical contacts onerated by rotation of said member.

6. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial and rotational movements, electrical contacts operated by axial movements of said shaft, a member mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said member by said shaft, springs having ends thereof engaged by said member, fixed stops co-operating with said member to compress said springs, a sleeve on said shaft and engaging said member to be rotated thereby, cams operated by said sleeve, and electrical contacts operated by said cams upon rotation of said member.

7. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial and rotational movements, means compelling an axial movement of said shaft prior to a rotational movement of said shaft from a predetermined. position, electrical contacts operated upon axial and rotational movements of said shaft from said predetermined position, and spring means for returning said shaft through said rotational and axial movements to said predetermined position.

8. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, means mount-- ing said shaft for axial and rotational movements, lock means, compelling an axial movement of said shaft prior to a rotational movement of said shaft from a predetermined position, means limiting rotational movements of said shaft, electrical contacts operated upon axial and rotational movements of said shaft from said predetermined position, and sprin means for returning said shaft through said rotational and axial movements to said predetermined position, said lock means serving to determine said predetermined position.

9. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for axial and rotational movements, lock means compelling an axial movement of said shaft prior to a rotational movement of said shaft from a predetermined position, stop means limiting rotational movement of said shaft, electrical contacts operated upon axial and rotational movements of said shaft from said prede" termined position, spring means opposing said axial movement and said rotational movement in either direction from said predetermined posi tion.

10. In a push-pull switch, a shaft, casing means mounting said shaft for axial and rota-- tional movements, lock means compelling an axial movement of said shaft prior to a rotational movement of said shaft from a predetermined position, stop means limiting rotational movements of said shaft, a member mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said member with said shaft, electrical contacts in said casing operated upon axial and rotational movements of said shaft, and springs engaged by said member opposing rotational movements thereof, said member and casing means having co operating recesses receiving said springs and providing abutments therefor.

11. In an electric switch, a shaft, means manually to move said shaft axially and rotatively, contacts operated by the axial movement and other contacts operated by the rotative movement of said shaft, means preventing rotative movement of the shaft while the axially operated contacts are in a certain position, in combination with means automatically to return said shaft to its initial position when said manual means is released comprising a fixed housing member having a recess, a rotatively movable member having a recess complementary to said first-mentioned recess to form a niche therewith for a spring, a connection between said shaft and said rotative member for rotation of said mem her with said shaft and permitting axial movement of said shaft relative to member, sprin in said niche normally biasing said shaft into a predetermined position.

12. In an electric switch, a shaft, means mam ually to move said shaft axially and rotatively, contacts operated by the axial movement other contacts operated by the rotative movement of said shaft, means preventing rotative movement of the shaft while the axiall operated contacts are in a certain posit in combination with means automatically to return said shaft to its initial position when said manual means is released comprising an abutment member, a rotataively movable member, a connection between said shaft and said rotative member causing rotation of said member with said shaft and permitting axial movement of said shaft relative to said rotative member, spring means cooperating with said abutment member and said rotative member to return said shaft to a predetermined position.

13. In an electric switch, a shaft, means manually to move said shaft axially and rotatively, contacts operated by the axial movement and other contacts operated by the rotative movement of said shaft, means preventing rotative movement of the shaft while the axially operated contacts are in a certain position, in combination with means automatically to return said shaft to its initial position when said manual means is released comprising an abutment member, a r0- tatively movable member, a connection between said shaft and said rotative member causing rotation of said member with said shaft and permitting axial movement of said shaft relative to said rotative member, spring means cooperating with said abutment member and said rotative member to return said shaft to a predetermined position and a second spring means biasing said shaft axially into position wherein it is locked by said rotation-preventing means.

14. A switch as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shaft is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a mid-position, and wherein said second spring means holds said shaft locked against rotation while in mid-position.

DAVID W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

